CHINHOYI – Five commuter omnibus conductors, who were recently arrested for bribing a police officer manning a roadblock have each been sentenced to an effective three months’ imprisonment. REPORT BY OWN CORRESPONDENT
The accused – Vincent Muzvondiwa (26), Wadzanai Bepura (27), Timothy Hove (37), Meeting Rufuse (30) and Teddy Chagwedera (42) – were initially slapped with five months’ imprisonment each before two months were conditionally suspended when they appeared before Chinhoyi magistrate Ngoni Nduna yesterday.
The State case was that on December 29 between noon and 4pm, police mounted a roadblock at Chirau turnoff, 35km along the Chinhoyi-Chegutu Road, to check vehicle defects and enforce traffic laws.
It was averred that during the course of their police duties, the officers arrested the five for various offences ranging from operating without a permit, no vehicle fitness certificate to overloading, among others. The conductors refused to pay the spot fines and instead offered the receipting officer, Constable Mukwashu, $5 each for their crimes.
They were immediately arrested and the $5 notes were withheld as exhibits.
Morris Mlilo prosecuted.
